This summer, id Software was significantly affected by layoffs as part of the XBOX restructuring. A few months later, 20 former employees of the company announced the launch of a new studio called Hidden Horses.
According to the founders of Hidden Horses, their studio is characterized by an unconventional approach to business — all team members have become co-owners of Hidden Horses, and they have agreed to make management decisions "democratically." They believe this approach will enable them to be more effective.
"We've created a studio where developers share in its success and see it as more than just another job. I believe that when people have a personal stake in a project's success, they are more dedicated to it," explained Hidden Horses' executive producer, Andrew Willis.
Hidden Horses is set to develop old-school shooters. Its debut game will be Danger Pay — a single-player arena shooter with a first-person perspective, where gamers will participate in a bloody television show.
The studio plans to fund the creation of Danger Pay through a Kickstarter campaign, though it is not yet known how much they will need to raise.